COLUMBUS - When freshman wide receiver Duron Carter chose to go to Ohio State, it had nothing to do with his father, legendary Buckeye wide receiver Cris Carter.

While it may be way too early to tell - whether Duron likes it or not - the rumblings surrounding Carter are so impressive that some already think he could end up being just as good as his father.

Instead of taking the speculation too far, we will just settle for the fact that he could be a contributor as early as this season.

"Everything is going really well. I like being here and when I committed I thought that Ohio State was the best place for me and it really has proven to be," Carter said. "I am just performing (right now) to the best of my ability. We haven't had any coaching drills yet, but hopefully when coach (Darrell Hazell) gets out there he can teach me some stuff so I can mature as a player and hopefully be in the rotation."

When asked if the rumors were true in terms of him already being able to be considered as a contributor as a true freshman, Carter was kind of tight-lipped. He didn't want to talk about his progression or how he felt he was doing.

Instead, his teammates did it for him.

Carter's name was a regular out of his teammates' mouths when they were asked which of the youngsters has been turning heads thus far.

"Duron Carter, he is going to be a great receiver," said senior safety Anderson Russell when asked who is has stood out. "He has been doing a great job. Malcolm (Jenkins) and Donald (Washington) came out with us a few times and he was giving those guys trouble sometimes. He is going to be a great receiver for us."

So far during his time in Columbus, however, Carter is seeing his own progression a little differently than the rest of the team.

While there is undoubtedly a good opportunity for him to make a difference early with the Buckeyes after Ohio State lost Brian Robiskie and Brian Hartline following last season, Carter still looks at himself as a freshman that has plenty to learn.

"I am just trying to catch every ball, no drops, and going into camp that's my goal," Carter said. "It has been a very, very, very big difference (from high school to college). The speed of the game, knowing all the reads and the plays, it is definitely something that you need to adjust to.

"It was very hard because when I first came in and tried to remember the plays it was just ridiculous and I thought I couldn't do it," Carter added. "Coach Hazell sat me down, we went over a bunch of plays and now I feel have a good grasp on what we are trying to do."

While some players would want to go away from what their parents have done and create their own individual name for themselves, Carter wasn't worried about either. He didn't pick Ohio State because his father went there, he simply chose the Buckeyes because it was the best fit for him.

"It wasn't really about (my dad). Ohio State has a lot of really good receivers at the professional level and that's eventually where I would like to be," Carter said. "Coach Hazell, I believe, is the best receivers coach in the nation and he is going to prepare me to be in that level throughout the four years that I am here.

"My dad felt it was the best place for me and he had been through problems at Ohio State," Carter added. "We are just two different people."

Even so, Carter did admit that having his father being a legend at Ohio State has made the transition to Columbus from Florida a little easier.

"It is still there," Carter said of memories of his dad's playing days with the Buckeyes, "but I am trying to create my own memories."

Judging by the impression Carter has already had on many of his teammates, creating his own memories and legacy at Ohio State don't seem to be too far out of the question.